Up until now, the integration of AI into the cosmetics industry has “predominantly focused on personalisation, marketing, and supply chain optimisation,” the researchers wrote. But there is a clear gap in how AI can be used to drive green product innovation, they said.
Opportunities for using AI technologies in cosmetics extend to product formulation, packaging development, branding, labelling, and even lifecycle management, according to the review. The researchers said work in this space is particularly interesting when working to adhere to relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG9 on industry innovation and infrastructure; SGD12 on responsible consumption and production; and SDG13 on climate action.
According to the review, integration of AI technologies at scale in cosmetics could help companies move the dial towards a more circular, waste-free and environmentally-friendly industry. “The cosmetics industry faces a transformative opportunity with AI to build beyond traditional approaches to sustainability and lead the way for next-generation green product innovation.”
Green formulation and packaging - combined
Review findings show that, when integrated centrally into innovation efforts, AI can act as a “dynamic capability” across both formulation and manufacturing processes, autonomously developing AI-optimised formulations and packaging and then refining market positioning through “holistic sustainability communication” across branding and labelling.
Traditionally, formulation and packaging are treated as “separate research areas” but AI has the potential “to bring all of these aspects of sustainable beauty innovation into harmony”, as outlined in the framework within the review, the researchers said. The framework outlines how AI can be used across product development, packaging innovation, green branding and market adoption collectively.
Using AI technologies in this way, they said, enables companies to “transition from isolated process improvements to systemic, circular economy-driven innovation strategies”.
Further real-world research required
According to the review, it will be important moving forward that further research is conducted. There is a need to conduct quantitative research that measures outcomes in real-world scenarios. Interviews with industry leaders to explore readiness factors and perceived barriers for adoption should also be considered.
The researchers said integrating AI into existing business processes and operations poses “multiple, significant challenges”, such as compatibility with existing IT systems, interruption of operational and production processes, resistance by employees, and high cost of implementation. Future research, therefore, should focus on developing “more efficient and effective business-friendly techniques”.
Importantly, any future research or reporting must be kept up-to-speed, given the rapid pace of AI innovation and how fast technologies are evolving and appearing, the researchers said.
Formulation, lifecycle and consumer use
Speaking to Premium Beauty News, Richard Cope, environmental research consultant and founder of insights platform EcoVox, said using AI technologies to advance sustainable cosmetics innovation is certainly interesting.
“Fast tracking us to innovation solutions in energy and medicine is probably AI’s greatest benefit, so, yes, the [cosmetics] sector should be embracing this as an efficient means of identifying safe and sustainable ingredients and formulations that can also be potentially ’fact checked’ in terms of supply chain security,” Cope said.
The challenge, however, will be ensuring that innovation outcomes and products are “different, not generic”, he said.
For Cope, use of AI for product lifecycle and consumer engagement in beauty holds particular promise. “So much of the product’s impact comes in the consumption and end-of-life stages when the consumer becomes key in terms of things like water usage and disposal,” he said. If AI can help boost uptake of refills or encourage reduced water consumption during use, this is positive, he said.
